Nuclear Fusion

For years, scientists have been testing methods to stop the destruction of our planet. This teardown has been caused by our massive use of fossil fuels. In only a few hundred years, this “energy source” has ripped massive holes in our ozone layer, caused countless deaths of both animals and humans alike, and has ripped the Earth to its bare bones. We must learn to move away from this source as a whole. This is easier said than done. Humans have developed a connection with fossil fuels, and it is called “the easy road”. As a society, we are notorious for being wasteful and materialistic. Our dependency on fossil fuels is no different. To put this monster into perspective: humans have only used huge amounts of fossil fuels since the early twentieth century. All of this deterioration has been caused in a time span of less than 200 years. That is not even a dent in the amount of time humans have been on this earth. Easy access to fossil fuels has changed our society as a whole, leading to rampant materialism. We have forgotten how to work for things, and also how to preserve and care for the things we love.

Several alternative energy sources are being considered to power our necessities over a large area of land. None would be so effective as nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is what powers the Sun and all other stars. Fusion occurs when the nuclei of two atoms join together to become one. Although, it should be noted that fusion easily occurs in stars. This is due to the high temperatures (atoms must be heated to highs of 200 million degrees to occur) and also because of the high pressures in the core of these stars. It is much harder to achieve fusion here on Earth.

Research into nuclear fusion began around 1920. Physicist F.W. Ast...

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...ng the production of energy. The nuclear fusion reaction is so delicate that the level of safety is maximized. If the fuel supply in a nuclear fusion reaction is stopped, the totally reaction stops. In a fission reaction, the reactor is loaded with enough fuel for several years, making it extremely unsafe when compared to its nuclear cousin.

Fusion power is one of the most promising up and coming energy sources. However, there are many aspects of this reaction that makes it seemingly impossible to reproduce here on Earth. When compared to many other energy sources, it seems perfect. There is enough hydrogen in the ocean to supply a nuclear fusion economy for billions of years. Researchers are still evaluating methods to create more energy than it takes to cause a nuclear fusion reaction. Once this is achieved, the world may forever switch to nuclear fusion power.